Systems and methods for handling the display and receipt of aircraft control information

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for handling aircraft control information are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a display medium coupleable to a flight manager, with the flight manager configured to receive and direct instructions for automatically controlling aircraft functions at a future time during flight of the aircraft. The system can further include a display controller coupled to the display medium to present at least one operator activatable element at the display medium and update information presented at the display medium when the operator activates the operator activatable element. For example, the operator activatable element can include an icon presented at a computer display screen, and can be activated by a keystroke.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/814,369, filed Mar. 31, 2004, which issued on Aug. 26, 2008 as U.S.Pat. No. 7,418,319.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed generally toward systems and methodsfor handling the display and receipt of aircraft control information,for example, display media that present operator activatable elements.

BACKGROUND

Modern commercial aircraft make extensive use of computer systems tocontrol aircraft behavior, plan and execute flights, and manage a myriadof other aircraft operations. Most current commercial transport aircraftinclude a flight management computer (FMC) that tracks flight segmentsor “legs” en route and can automatically control the aircraft to flysome or all of the segments. A control and display unit (CDU) or similardevice provides input to and output from the FMC. Accordingly, pilotscan load a series of flight segments into the FMC before a flight,monitor the progress of the flight by reference to the CDU, and/ormodify the segments by entering new information via the CDU.

FIG. 1 illustrates a CDU 30 configured in accordance with the prior artand available on a variety of Boeing aircraft. The CDU 30 can include adisplay screen 31 and associated hardware input keys, including selectkeys 50 (shown as line select keys 50 a and menu select keys 50 b) andalphanumeric keys forming a keyboard 21. The display screen 31 includesa plurality of user update fields 33 that are updated by the aircraftoperator or initially populated by the FMC, and system update fields 32that are automatically updated by the FMC based on information receivedat the user update fields 33. For example, the operator can enter waypoint identifiers at the user update fields 33. The system can providedirection identifiers and distances between way points, based on theinformation received at the user update fields 33.

To operate the CDU 30, the operator presses one of the menu select keys50 b to determine which page dataset or menu is presented at the displayscreen 31. The operator then presses one of the line select keys 50 a toselect the user update field 33 that will be updated via data that aredisplayed at a scratch pad 35. If no data are present at the scratch pad35, then the data in the selected user update field 33 are displayed atthe scratch pad 35. The operator next edits information via the keyboard21 while viewing the information at the scratch pad 35. Alternatively,the operator can enter information presented at the scratch pad 35without first pressing one of the line select keys 50 a. In either case,after the operator reviews the entered information for accuracy, he orshe can depress the corresponding line select key 50 a to load theinformation from the scratch pad 35 into the corresponding user updatefield 33. This information then becomes part of the aircraft flightplan.

One drawback with the arrangement described above with reference to FIG.1 is that a change to the layout of the hardware input keys or the textidentifier on the input keys can significantly increase the cost ofupgrading the CDU 30. For example, because the input keys are fixedlypositioned at the CDU 30, it can be prohibitively expensive and/orlogistically difficult to change the layout of the CDU, for example, tochange the size of the display screen 31, the location of the lineselect keys, or other aspects of the design of the CDU 30. Accordingly,airlines and other aircraft owners may be discouraged from installingsystem updates that can significantly ease pilot workload and improvethe efficiency with which pilots operate their aircraft. As a result,aircraft owners may wait for a substantial period of time beforeimplementing upgrades, and when they do so, they may incur considerableexpenses.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed generally toward systems and methodsfor handling aircraft control information. A system in accordance withone aspect of the invention includes a display medium coupleable to aflight manager, with the flight manager being configured to receive anddirect instructions for automatically controlling aircraft functions ata future time during flight of the aircraft. The system can furtherinclude a display controller coupled to the display medium to present atleast one operator activatable element (e.g., an icon) at the displaymedium and update information presented at the display medium when theoperator activates the operator activatable element.

In a particular aspect of the invention, the display controller can beoperatively coupled to the display medium to present at least oneoperator activatable icon as well as a control icon (e.g., a cursor). Atracking device can be operatively coupled to the display medium to movethe control icon, and the display controller can be configured to updatethe information presented at the display medium when the operator alignsthe control icon with the operator activatable element and activates thetracking device.

A method in accordance with another aspect of the invention includespresenting at a display medium at least one operator activatableelement. The method can further include, in response to receiving asignal input by the operator and corresponding to an activation of theoperator activatable input, changing at least a portion of theinformation presented at the display medium. The information cancorrespond to instructions for automatically controlling aircraftfunctions at a future time during flight of the aircraft. In particularaspects of the invention, the information can be displayed in a mannergenerally similar to a manner in which the information is displayed at acontrol and display unit. Changing at least a portion of the informationpresented at the display medium can include updating a flight plan listthat includes flight segments to be flown at a future time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic illustration of a CDU configured inaccordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic illustration of a system for controllingan aircraft in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a flight guidance computerconfigured to handle aircraft operation information in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for handling aircraftoperation information in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic illustration of a display medium andassociated input/output devices configured in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for handling aircraftoperation information in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a partially schematic, isometric illustration of a flight deckin which systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can behoused.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure describes systems and methods for displayingand handling aircraft operation information (e.g., control and statusinformation) aboard an aircraft. Certain specific details are set forthin the following description and in FIGS. 2-7 to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various embodiments of the invention. Well-knownstructures, systems and methods often associated with handlingelectronic instructions have not been shown or described in detail belowto avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the variousembodiments of the invention. In addition, those of ordinary skill inthe relevant art will understand that additional embodiments of thepresent invention may be practiced without several of the detailsdescribed below.

Many embodiments of the invention described below may take the form ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as routines executed by aprogrammable computer (e.g., a flight guidance computer). Those skilledin the relevant art will appreciate that the invention can be practicedon other computer system configurations as well. The invention can beembodied in a special-purpose computer or data processor that isspecifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one ormore of the computer-executable instructions described below.Accordingly, the term “computer” as generally used herein includes anyprocessor and can include Internet appliances, hand-held devices(including palm-top computers, wearable computers, cellular or mobilephones, multiprocessor systems, processor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, mini-computers and the like).

The invention can also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments, where tasks or modules are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules or subroutines may belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices. Aspects of theinvention described below may be stored or distributed oncomputer-readable media, including magnetic or optically readablecomputer disks (e.g., removable disks), as well as distributedelectronically over networks. Data structures and transmissions of dataparticular to aspects of the invention are also encompassed within thescope of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an aircraft 201 having a system200 configured to display and receive information in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Portions of the system 200 can be housed ata flight deck 240 of the aircraft 201 for access by an operator (e.g., apilot). The aircraft 201 can have a fixed wing configuration (as shownin FIG. 2) or other configurations (e.g., rotary wing configurations).In one aspect of this embodiment, the system 200 can includeinput/output devices 220 via which the operator can provide informationto a computer (e.g., a flight guidance computer 210). The flightguidance computer 210 can include a memory 211 and a processor 212 forprocessing the information received. The input/output devices 220 canalso include a display 230 at which information is presented to theoperator. The display 230 can include icons or other displayed elementsin lieu of hardware switches, which can allow the operator to easilyenter information and review the information once entered. Thisarrangement can also allow the system 200 to be easily updated, therebytaking advantage of available upgrades without requiring hardwarechanges.

The flight guidance computer 210 can include a flight managementcomputer, autoflight computer, autopilot, and/or autothrottle and can belinked to one or more aircraft control systems 202, shown in FIG. 2 as alateral motion or roll control system 202 a, a vertical motioncontroller 202 b, and an air speed or engine control system 202 c tocontrol the aircraft direction, altitude and speed. The flight guidancecomputer 210 directs the operation of the control systems 202 eitherautomatically or by providing guidance cues to the operator who thenmanually controls the aircraft 201. Aspects of the operator'sinteractions with the system 200 are described in greater detail belowwith reference to FIGS. 3-6.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the flight guidancecomputer 210 described above with reference to FIG. 2. The flightguidance computer 210 can include a keyboard 321 (e.g., for enteringalphanumeric characters) and a tracking device 322 (e.g., for moving acontrol element, including a cursor). A controller 314 can receiveinformation from the keyboard 321 and the tracking device 322 (oranother input device), as well as a flight manager 313 (which processesthe information), and can present at least some of the information atthe display medium 230. The controller 314 can also receive informationvia the display medium 230, as described below with reference to FIGS.4-6.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method 490 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The method 490 can include presenting atleast one operator activatable element at a display medium (processportion 491). The method can further include receiving a signal input bythe operator and corresponding to an activation of the operatoractivatable element (process portion 492). For example, the operatoractivatable element can include an emulation of a mechanical switch orbutton which appears on the display medium. The emulation can be drivenby software or other instructions residing on a computer-readablemedium. The system can receive the signal input by the operator when theoperator highlights the activatable element and activates theactivatable element, for example, by aligning a cursor or other controlelement with the activatable element and entering a keystroke, mouseclick, or other appropriate signal. In process portion 493, the process490 includes changing at least a portion of the information presented atthe display medium in response to receiving the signal. The informationcan correspond to instructions for automatically controlling aircraftfunctions at a future time during flight of the aircraft. For example,the instructions can correspond to legs of a flight plan that areautomatically implemented at a particular time or when a particular enroute way point is reached. These instructions can be handled by theflight guidance computer 210 (FIG. 2), which can also handleinstructions that are to be implemented immediately or nearlyimmediately (e.g., “direct to” instructions).

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the display medium 230 presenting aircraftcontrol information and operator activatable input elements inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the display medium 230 includes a screen 531 (e.g., an LCDscreen) presenting a plurality of operator activatable elements (shownas line select elements 550 a and menu select elements 550 b). Theoperator activatable elements 550 can have the appearance of hardwareswitches so as to provide a sense of familiarity to operators who areaccustomed to entering information at a CDU generally similar to the onedescribed above with reference to FIG. 1. In fact, the overallappearance of the display presented at the display medium 230 can besimilar to that of the CDU described above with reference to FIG. 1.Accordingly, the display medium 230 can present system update fields 532and operator update fields 533. The system update fields 532 can presentflight leg information (e.g., aircraft direction and distance betweenway points), and the operator update fields 533 can include way pointidentifier fields and aircraft speed/altitude fields. Each line selectelement 550 a can be aligned with one of the operator update fields 533to make it clear to the operator which operator update field 533 will beupdated when a particular line select element 550 a is activated.

To select or activate one of the operator update fields 533 forupdating, the operator can use the tracking device 322 to move a controlelement 536 (e.g., a cursor) into alignment with one of the line selectelements 550 a, and then optionally provide an additional signal. Forexample, the operator can “click” a button on the tracking device 322 orenter a keystroke at the keyboard 321. In another embodiment, theoperator can scroll through the available operator update fields 533,e.g., by activating an “arrow” key at the keyboard 321 or a tabber knobon or off the keyboard 321, and then provide an additional signal whenthe desired operator update field 533 is reached. In either arrangement,the activated operator update field 533 can be displayed in a differentmanner than the non-activated fields, for example, with highlighting537.

When the operator selects one of the selectable operator update fields533, any information currently present at the selected operator updatefield 533 can appear in a preview field 535 for editing. The operatorcan edit the information displayed in the preview field 535 with thekeyboard 321 and, after reviewing the information for accuracy, cansubmit the information to the corresponding operator update field 533.In one embodiment, the information can be submitted by entering akeystroke at the keyboard 321, and in another embodiment the informationcan be submitted by clicking a button on the tracking device 322 or byanother method. In any of these arrangements, once the information hasbeen submitted, the system 200 can check the information for accuracy.If the information is accurate, the system can load the information intothe flight plan or other destination (e.g., program, routine ordatabase). Optionally, the system 200 can display an error message in amanner generally similar to that described in copending U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/824,052 entitled “Methods and Systems for DisplayingAssistance Messages to Aircraft Operators,” filed concurrently herewith.

In other embodiments, the system 200 can receive information indifferent manners. For example, the operator can initially enterinformation via the keyboard 321 to appear at the preview field 535,without first selecting one of the operator update fields 533. Afterentering the information at the preview field 535, the operator can thenselect one of the operator update fields 533 to receive the informationfrom the preview field 535.

The display medium 230 shown in FIG. 5 illustrates a “legs” pageidentifying upcoming segments or legs of a flight plan that are executedsequentially at a future time (e.g., as the aircraft overfliessuccessive way points). The display medium 230 can display otherinformation when the operator activates the appropriate menu selectelement 550 b. The menu select elements 550 b displayed at the displaymedium 230 can operate in a manner generally similar to that of the lineselect elements 550 a, and can be provided in lieu of the hardwareswitches available on existing systems. In still further embodiments,other input devices can also be presented at the display medium 230. Forexample, the alphanumeric keys of the keyboard 321 can be presented asoperator activatable elements, either at the display medium 230 shown inFIG. 5 or, if space is not available there, at another display medium.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process 690 for handling aircraft controlinformation in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, forexample, by using a system having aspects generally similar to thosedescribed above with reference to FIG. 5. The process 690 can includepresenting information at a display medium, with the informationcorresponding to instructions for flying a plurality of flight segmentsand with at least one of the instructions to be executed at a futuretime (process portion 691). In process portion 692, the system receivesa proposed update for the information from an operator via a keypad, forexample, the keypad 321 described above with reference to FIG. 5, or theinformation can be received via a datalink. The proposed update can bepresented at a preview field of the display medium (process portion693), for example, the preview field 535 of the display medium 230 shownin FIG. 5. In process portion 694, at least one operator selectable iconcorresponding to an active field of the display medium can be presentedat the display medium (e.g., one of the line select elements 550 a orthe menu select elements 550 b shown in FIG. 5). In process portion 695,the system receives a signal input by an operator and corresponding to aselection of the operator selectable icon when the operator manipulatesa tracking device to move a control icon (e.g., a cursor) into alignmentwith the operator selectable icon and activates the tracking device. Inprocess portion 696, the active field presented at the display medium isupdated to include the proposed update based on the signal input by theoperator.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flight deck 240 having displays and controlsassociated with an embodiment of the system 200 described above. Theflight deck 240 can include forward windows 741 providing a forwardfield of view from the aircraft 201 for operators seated in a first seat745 a and/or a second seat 745 b. In other embodiments, the forwardwindows 741 can be replaced with one or more external vision screensthat include a visual display of the forward field of view out of theaircraft 201. A glare shield 742 can be positioned adjacent to theforward windows 741 to reduce the glare on one or more flightinstruments 744 positioned on a control pedestal 743 and a forwardinstrument panel 246.

The flight instruments 744 can include primary flight displays (PFDs)747 that provide the operators with actual flight parameter information,and multifunction displays (MFDs) 748 that display otheroperator-selectable information. For example, one or more of the MFDs748 can present a navigation display 749 containing navigationalinformation. The flight guidance computer 210 described above withreference to FIG. 2 can include several linked and/or unlinkedcomputers, including a flight management computer (FMC) 752.

One of the MFDs 748 can include two side-by-side display fields 538(generally similar to the display field described above with referenceto FIG. 5) positioned on the control pedestal 743. In other embodiments,the display fields 538 can be presented singly or together at any of theMFDs 748. The display fields 538 provide an interface for each of theoperators to the flight management computer 752. Accordingly, thedisplay fields 538 can include flight plan list displays and otherdisplays for presenting information corresponding to upcoming segmentsof the aircraft flight plan. The keyboards 321 allow the operators toenter information corresponding to the segments. Further details ofcontrols for side-by-side display fields are included in copending U.S.application Ser. No. 10/815,034 entitled “Methods and Systems forControlling the Display of Information at an Aircraft Flight Deck,”filed concurrently herewith and incorporated herein in its entirety byreference. The flight guidance computer 210 can further include a modecontrol panel (MCP) 760 having input devices 761 for receiving inputsfrom the operators, and a plurality of displays 762 for providing flightcontrol information to the operators.

One feature of embodiments of the system 200 described above withreference to FIGS. 2-7 is that at least some of the input devices forcontrolling, updating, or implementing aircraft functions that are to beexecuted at a future time are presented at a display medium, rather thanas hardware switches. One advantage of this arrangement is that theamount of information displayed and/or the manner in which informationis displayed at the display medium 230 can be altered, updated, orotherwise changed with relative ease and without requiring hardwaremodifications to the flight deck. For example, the size, appearance,number and/or location of the operator activatable elements can bechanged by changing the computer-based instructions that control thepresentation of these elements at the display media. Accordingly, asadvances are made in information processing and display techniques,these advances can be more readily implemented on existing flight deckswithout necessarily requiring hardware upgrades or by implementingrelatively simple hardware upgrades.

Another advantage of the foregoing features is that the inventory ofspare hardware parts can be reduced because the mechanical switches ofexisting CDUs can be replaced with software-driven switch iconspresented at the display media. Should a system upgrade or replacementbecome necessary, the appropriate instructions can be downloaded to theaircraft either directly at the aircraft itself or via a remote link,again without requiring a change in hardware.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, aspects of the inventiondescribed in the context of particular embodiments can be combined oreliminated in other embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A method for handling aircraft control information, comprising:presenting at a display medium a plurality of operator activatableelements arranged in a two-column format, the display medium beingpositioned at a pedestal between operator seats of the aircraft; and inresponse to receiving a signal input by the operator and correspondingto an activation of at least one of the operator activatable elements,changing a computer-based flight plan of the aircraft that is to beautomatically implemented at a future time during flight of theaircraft, and presenting information corresponding to the changed flightplan at the display medium.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein presentingat least one operator activatable element includes presenting an iconrepresenting a switch.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving asignal includes receiving a signal when the operator activates theoperator activatable element by manipulating a tracking device to aligna control icon with the operator selectable icon and activating thetracking device.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displayingthe information corresponding to the instructions in a manner generallysimilar to a manner in which the information is displayed at an aircraftcontrol display unit.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting aplurality of operator activatable elements includes highlighting one ofthe at least one operator activatable elements upon receiving a signalauthorized by the operator.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein presentingat a display medium includes displaying at a computer screen.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein presenting information corresponding to thechanged flight plan includes updating a flight plan list that includesflight segments to be flown at a future time.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving an input from the operator correspondingto a proposed update for information presented at the display medium;and presenting the input at a preview field of the display medium, andwherein changing a computer-based flight plan includes updating theinformation to include the input.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving the signal input by the operator, and whereinreceiving the signal includes receiving the signal when the operatorstrikes an input key.
 10. A method for handling aircraft controlinformation, comprising: presenting information at a display medium, theinformation corresponding to instructions for flying a plurality offlight segments with at least one of the instructions to be executed ata future time during aircraft flight in accordance with a computer-basedflight plan; presenting at the display medium a plurality of operatorselectable elements arranged in a two-column format; receiving a signalinput by the operator and corresponding to a selection of at least oneof the operator selectable elements; displaying at a preview displayfield a value corresponding to the operator's selection; and based onthe signal input by the operator and a subsequent operator authorizationof the value displayed at the preview display field, changing at least aportion of the flight plan and presenting information the display mediumcorresponding to the changed flight plan.